A Judicial coup d'etat in North Carolina

The recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit should be worrisome for the entire nation. Decisions such as these represent a judicial coup d’état by federal judges in matters that our Constitution reserves to the people. It is no wonder that 82 percent of Americans think that their government does not care what they think.

After the laws that the court struck down — eliminating out-of-precinct voting and same-day registration and reducing early voting from 17 to 10 days — were implemented, the greatest increase in turnout was among African American voters. Also, the election rules adopted by North Carolina in 2013 followed similar actions by other states.

As a result of the 4th Circuit’s decision, I fear we will see a reduction in the number of hours that the polls are open during early voting.

Furthermore, the results of the latest primary election prove that the number of black voters who lack photo identification, or who cannot vote under our reasonable-impediment option, is extremely small. Out of the more than 2.3 million votes cast, fewer than 0.008 percent of people were unable to cast counted ballots because of the identification statute.

This proves that election administration should not be left up to a panel of judges appointed by partisan politicians.

David Lewis, Dunn, N.C.

The writer, a Republican, is a member of theNorth Carolina House of Representatives.